Shepherding : A Laboring Priest

Romans 15:16

That I might be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, a laboring priest of the gospel of God, in order that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, having been sanctified in the Holy Spirit.

These days the Lord's speaking has always been on the matter of priesthood. The urgency of being recovered to be a normal and proper priest and the importance of serving and functioning as a laboring priest; on the one hand to come before God and being filled with Him as His holy priest and going to the people to express and represent Him as the royal priest. 1 Peter 2:5,9.

Personally, it is always my prayer and burden that I be fully recovered in my being and in my service as priest. With this, the Lord blessed me with three small groups and two local brothers to shepherd. My main service in this regard is with my wife in praying for these new ones daily, interceding for them that they may grow in life and be shepherded into the church life and even become pillars for the local church here in Gurgaon.

This week, one brother came with his whole lot of problem. My main fellowship was the need for him to experience and enjoy the Lord through the word, in prayer and in fellowship with fellow believers. Problems are just an opportunity given by God as blessings in disguise for us to learn to trust and experience Christ and gain Him all the more. Besides, we worked together for some of his professional works, and he himself determined in his heart to give his first priority to the Lord; in reading the Bible every day, in praying everyday, and perhaps with me over the phone, and coming at  least  once a week for fellowship with the fellow members of the Body of Christ and partake of the Lord's table every Lord's day. It was the grace of God that I can experience something of shepherding.

Similarly, with another brother, I fellowship on some basic truth and experiences of a Christian life as he was from a deep rooted religious background. To undo what had been done and now to be reconstituted with Christ is not an easy matter. There will be some struggles, some confusion for a while and ultimately all the mess will be cleaned-up for Christ's complete and pure expression.

I also have been experiencing being a laboring priest in the home meetings where we pursued the word of God together and fellowshipped on the urgent need of the saints. On truths, on life practices, and some personal matters. Through all these, I am learning to be a laboring priest of the gospel and learning to shepherd. This is just few experiences this week.

Spiritual Warfare

These days I have been experiencing a great deal of spiritual warfare. Many unprecedented things have happened and the tide of life was jolted by a spiritual tsunami. Personally and corporately I felt a strong spiritual tremor in the like of the recent Nepal earthquake, save for the physical destruction by the quake and the aftermath. 

One obvious matter is the attack of Satan upon two brothers who accused each other, standing in their own view point and attacking and not seeing who they were in themselves. Generally, only one who is in the dark sees the one who is in the light, especially, this kind of seeing is mostly negative. Such was the case, recently. Like it or not, I had to be in the meeting with these brothers; patiently listening to each ones' version. In meeting like this, no one admits his fault but present the facts of his "justification." 

After all the humdrum, I finally spoke up to tell the brothers that it was not a matter of who was right or who was wrong, but it was Satan trying to create a scene, to destroy all and divide the oneness of the brothers. My fellowship was, to identify who was behind all these, not a brother, but Satan as a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour! Once the enemy was identified, fight against him, not the brother. In terms of right, no one is right, all are wrong for we are not only sinful, but sin itself. So all need the blood of Jesus Christ to wash us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

After this fellowship, the two brothers  exercised their spirit and calmed down. They both confessed their own mistakes and forgave one another. Then we all prayed together for the Lord's forgiveness and covering from the attack of the enemy. In fact, even with tears. 

This is a spiritual warfare; we are engaging in it day by day, especially these days, in Gurgaon. I felt it very strongly. As I prayed for the saints and the new ones, name by name, each one has different situation, and all are going through some kind of "attacks" from the enemy in many ways; some financial, some relationship, some health and yet some are just misunderstanding. This prompted me to pray more and encourage the saints to exercise their spirit more to be normal Christians in a normal church-life. 

Despite all that the enemy does to engage us in warfare, the Lord sovereignly allows it for our own learning, training, perfecting and maturing. And the spiritual fact is, "Christ is Victor, and Jesus is Lord!" Come what may, Chris is Victor! In all our spiritual warfare, we are already the Victor, for the Victor, Christ, is in us! Hallelujah!  

The Lord's Leading : Flexibility

Last weekend I had planned to go to Jaipur for follow up shepherding. I brought this matter for fellowship and the Lord adjusted this plan. In the principle of the Body it is always best to serve in coordination, not singly but with some other members. But it so turned out that no one was available to go with me. The only way to go ahead was to go alone. I left the matter to the Lord and allowed the Lord to work. In prayer and in fellowship, even with my wife, and even in the circumstances, I could discern that I should not go this time. So I cancelled the plan.

 

The Lord knows best. Because of the cancelled plan I was available for the need in Gurgaon itself. The Friday group meeting was not cancelled, on Saturday we had a very important baptism and were fellowshipping and praying with a saint for some new ones of whom two were also baptised. Besides, there was an urgent call to meet a family with demonic and psychological attack from the enemy which was dealt with and prayed over.

Moreover, as a father of a family I could fulfill my family responsibilities as well. I could also visit my children's school as a family for Parent-Teacher's Meet, and could take my family out to a park, and also for dinner.

I was also available to release the burden of the Lord's speaking for the week in the church meeting. Even a home meeting with a newly baptised believer was not cancelled. I could also visit a family for a group meeting where God spoke on the matter of "God-man."  

If I had gone ahead according to my self determined will, all these things that transpired last week would not have transpired. Worst of all, I would miss all of them and the weekend shepherding would not have taken place. But praise the Lord, in fellowship I was adjusted and balanced. This is the Body life, living and walking in the reality of the Body life!

This is yet another big lesson on fellowship and flexibility as per the Lord's leading. This reminds me of Paul's experience in Acts 16.

16:7   And when they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, yet the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 

Paul did not insist on his plan, instead followed the Spirit's leading that eventually led him to heed to the Macedonian call. This is not to undermine a proper prayer and planning, but in all our plannings, we must be open to the Lord for His adjustment and leading. He knows best.

What a blessed weekend I could enjoy, by heeding to the Lord's leading! 

Lord, keep me open to You always for Your leading.

Hachilah

In I Samuel 26, Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah as he searched and ran after David to kill him. Yet Jehovah would not deliver David at all, instead He delivered Saul to David, and David had the opportunity to kill Saul, if he wanted to. Even his servant advised him to kill Saul, but David, a man after God's heart, honor God's sovereignty and  would not lay his hand against the Lord's anointed.

26:8   And Abishai said to David, God has delivered your enemy into your hand today. Now therefore let me strike him with the spear even to the ground with one stroke, and I will not do it twice.26:9   But David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against Jehovah’s anointed and be guiltless?
26:11  Jehovah forbid that I should stretch out my hand against Jehovah’s anointed. 

This portion of the word touched my being so deeply. Here I could see he heart of God in David. How he honored the Lord's anointed even though the "anointed" had totally backslidden. He left the matter of revenge to the Lord.

26:10  And David said, As Jehovah lives, Jehovah will strike him down, or his day will come to die, or he will go down in battle and perish.

Actually, David was also anointed by God through Samuel already, but until the proper time for him to be enthroned as the king of Israel he would not prematurely or forcibly fight for the kingdom. He left the matter to the Lord.

Similarly, there are, and there will be many instances of the like in our Christian life today. But the divine principle is never to fight for one's right and to never take revenge, for whatsoever reason. At the right time the Lord will do His work. Until that time, we must humbly and simply submit ourselves to the Lord at all cost. This is a very deep spiritual lesson.

This is the lesson learned at "Hachilah," the lesson of accepting the Lord's sovereignty, and never to act by the natural man but leave everything to God who is in control.

Lord, may I learn this lesson thoroughly well. 

Brook Besor

In 1 Samuel 30 we see a beautiful pattern of the Lord's sovereignty in dealing with His children equally and righteously. Despite the negative background,  "David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.  And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I pursue after this band? Will I overtake them? And He said to him, Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them, and you will certainly deliver them.  And David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross over the brook Besor" verses 6b, 8, 10.

As Jehovah promised, David won the battle and brought back all the captives with the spoils.

30:21  Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David and who had been left behind at the brook Besor. And they went forth to meet David and to meet the people who were with him; and David came near to the people and greeted them.30:22  And all the wicked and worthless men among the men that had gone with David responded; and they said, Because they did not go with us, we will not give them anything of the spoil that we have delivered, except every man his wife and his children that they may lead them off and go away.30:23  Then said David, You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which Jehovah has given us, who has kept us and given this band that came against us into our hand.30:24  And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.30:25  And from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

Recently my reading of the old testament portion is on these verses, again and again at least three times. The Lord impressed me so deeply of certain principles in life from the life of David. It reminds me of the service of the Lord we have been carrying it out. At times there are some who really cannot be on the field laboring as the gospel of priest, however, they are just part of us too. They may not actively participate in the gospel work for some reason, but still whether they are directly involved or not, they are still a part of us. Perhaps, they are staying back and interceding for the Lord's move, or even otherwise, they may be weak and tired, still they are a part of us. What the Lord has blessed us is their blessings too. For we all are in one entity, one Body of Christ.

There are many services in the Lord's vineyard. Each one is apportioned according to the grace he receives. Each ones' function is all for the Body. The success or failure of one is the success or failure of all. This principle David set up at brook Besor is a marvelous example.

This has been a reminder to me again and again these days, not to condemn those who may not function as I do, or condemn myself in not functioning as others do. Nor should this be an excuse for laziness and negligence in not laboring as priests yet apply the principle of the brook Besor. But each one must faithfully labour wherever the Lord assigns and be not envious of one another. Success or failure is not the right scale to gauge the result, but the faithfulness in laboring as priest of the gospel of God. In prayer, in preaching, in giving and in going, all receive and share the blessing, equally.

Praying for Others

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I would sin against Jehovah by ceasing to pray for you, 1 Samuel 12:23a

In our Life-study pursuit on 1 Samuel today morning, the Lord impressed me so much with the person and being of Samuel. His reminder to the children of Israel expressed who he was and what purity of heart he had towards them and how he was one with God in His move on the earth at that time. And as for him, he declared that it would be a sin against God if he did not pray for them. What a statement!

It is a sin indeed as Christian brother, not to pray and be concerned for my fellow Christian brethren. Praying for self is not enough, nor merely for matters or things. But one must pray for one another as well. Not to pray for one another is a sin. Not only that prayerlessness is a sin, but even praying only for self interest and not for fellows members in the Body is also a sin. Therefore, as Christians, we must pray for one another; the more the better.

By the Lord's mercy, as I and my wife, and also with our children have been praying every day, I could witness the answers of all these prayers one by one. Two very significant answers are the recovery and revival of the my brother who now enjoys the Lord and actively participates in the gospel move. Besides, I was even informed that his wife also is enjoying and practically participating in the church life. This to me personally is a great blessing. Few years ago I had been weeping and groaning for him and his family, many time with sleepless nights and heart broken, leaving the matter to the Lord. And now few years later, to hear of them enjoying the Lord and even participating in the Lord's move, and further that he has been very useful in the Lord's move is a heart full of joy to the Lord. 

The second significant answer was the glad tidings of the conception of my sister in law. We have been praying for them since the time I got married to my wife. And most recently, we prayed for the Lord to bless them with a baby, as there are some health and age issues involved. But we looked to the Lord and just offered simple prayer in faith day by day. When I was informed of the good news, my innate reaction was "praise the Lord" for He cares. Further, I have a strong faith that this will be a definite new beginning in their lives, spiritually and otherwise; the all-inclusive recovery.

These are just the beginning of the witnessing of the effectiveness of praying for one another. Besides, we are still praying for many others too. The Lord will manifest the answers one by one.

Lord, be my faithfulness to pray for others. And may I not commit a sin of not praying for others.

The Lord's Timely Supply :Jehovah-jireh 2

Genesis 22:14 

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh, as it is said to this day, On the mount of Jehovah it will be provided. 

(Similar experience of the Lord's timely provision was blogged in 2013 September,  http://palmeichung.blogspot.in/2013/09/jehovah-jireh.htm)

The situation of the serving ones these days have been that of the need for the Lord's timely provision. The real conditions of the serving ones were made known to me through some personal fellowship. Most of them are money-related problem. My only fellowship to the saints were to trust in the Lord and look to the Lord for His provision. For some reason the Lord allowed temporary scarcity. Perhaps, all for our learning to trust in the Lord, our Jehovah-jireh.

In the midst of all these, the Lord used a brother to supply all these needs. Few weeks ago, I received a surprise call for offering, and on inquiry of the purpose for it, the discretion for distribution was left to me, of course, with a specified burden to meet the serving ones' needs - to be offered for persons mostly. On praying over and considering it, I realised this as the Lord's provision for all the needs that have been fellowship to me directly or indirectly. The offering money was then distributed according to the Lord's leading inwardly by life and peace within.

Testimonies of this offering are as thus:

A full time serving brother who had been undergoing a very deep financial crunch fellowshipped his intention to work extra hours in the night time to make ends meet. His need was so great to the extent that he even hinted, perhaps, to quit his full time service to the Lord and go for secular job, for financial reason. My only fellowship and concern was that his function the Lord has apportioned should not be misused, and that the Lord would preserve him. I wanted to help in all ways I could, and did make some arrangement, within my limited capacity. Besides that, the Lord now meets his immediate need through this offering. Oh to witness the relief in his visage, is a joy indeed, through this offering!

A sister too was already in shortage as she is the sole bread winner of her family. She even had to get loan to meet certain immediate need of the family. When this offering came, the smiles and joy in her face was indeed a joy to witness. Her faith in the Lord definitely must have been strengthened, and much more, she was encouraged to serve the Lord and trust in Him only.

Another sister, a full time serving ones, is on her pregnancy due for delivery and her husband too a full time serving ones. When this offering was provided by the Lord, to hand over this to her itself is a joy, witnessing the meeting of the saint's need.

A brother also serving full time is already overburdened to meet the needs of his family. However, he faithfully continues to serve the Lord by faith. This time especially, when his needs are going up owing to various family situation, the Lord's provision was very timely. He himself acknowledge that the offering was very timely. Praise the Lord!

The offering was also distributed among seven different families; all of them, by the Lord's sovereignty, I was made aware of their families' struggles through some channels. Though I knew it before I could not do anything unless the Lord provides the means to practically help them. When this offering was brought to my notice, the Lord made it clear within me the burden to transfer for each of these families. I personally could sense the feelings within each of this dear saints on the Lord's timely supply.

All these families, to my understanding, are undergoing a struggle. Some of them are in huge debt. I even have been praying with them, to shepherd and rescue them out of their debt in a righteous manner, step by step, with trust in the Lord. From my side, I have done whatever I could, but beyond, I left it all to God. Most of these saints are comparatively new to the church-life and the Lord is graciously training them to live and walk by faith. It was a real joy to be graced to witness the Lord's timely provision for each one of them. Praise the Lord! 

The Lord truly is the the Jehovah-jireh; He does provides as He has always been and will ever be.

Lord, increase our faith and trust in You for all things. Not to look at Your provision per se, but solely to You, the One who provides.